Month: October 2022

Noticed

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Do you ever wonder if anyone notices you and the work you do?

I was part of a Fall Festival with games and food for families on Saturday. Many volunteers and staff worked hard. We were proud of our service and everyone enjoyed the event.

The next day, after church, someone gave me a note. It said, “… your behind the scenes works are such a great part … I just wanted to let you know how much you are appreciated.”

During my normal work I am noticed and encouraged. My tank is usually full. It is a great workplace.

Yet, we all wonder… does anyone know what I do? The note. It felt good and now sits on my home desk. It’s just a reminder… we are noticed.

You may not receive a note, but you are noticed.

You are leaving a legacy … leave a good legacy.

PS. Write someone a note … it may be the only encouragement they receive.

Talk it Out

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Facing decisions can be confusing. Welcome to the club. What can you do?

Talking with a trusted friend or confidant allows you to express what you are thinking, feeling and wondering about for your life. Just saying things out loud helps bring clarity to your thoughts.

Give someone a call for coffee (or tea) and tell them you need someone to help bring clarity to what is swirling around in your head.

As individualistic as I am, the few that I bounce off what I am thinking help me move forward. They don’t give me answers, they simply help me have a better perspective.

Talk it out and leave a good legacy.

Don’t Compare Run Your Race

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Comparison is dangerous.

Last weekend I went to a triathlon event with multiple races. I watched. Some took all day and others were less than an hour.

As participants finished a short race I noticed … tall, short, stout, skinny, young, old, moms and dads, some striving hard and others just surviving. A few had artificial limbs, most didn’t know anybody except for a friend or family member.

They just ran their race and they finished. Each one had their reason for running. If they had tried to copy someone else they would have been miserable and failed.

With over 500 participants I’m sure a few were disappointed in their outcome, but most have started telling the story of a completed race.

I can image the Monday morning stories of big waves and oppressive heat and the challenges they faced … but they lived to tell the story.

Leave a good legacy … run your race.

Roll Uphill

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My friend had a Honda QA50 mini- bike. It was cool. I had a mini-bike, but it was an off brand … cheaper bike. I was thankful for it, though our neighbors were not.

His bike was faster on a flat surface and going downhill. He always beat me in a race … except when we raced uphill.

I don’t know why my bike went faster uphill than downhill, but it doesn’t matter. It seems like it’s a metaphor for my life. Persevere and keeping moving forward when life is uphill.

Roll Uphill

Leave a good legacy

Say Something

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Many people are hesitant about speaking up and saying what they really think. If you are introverted and shy your default is to not speak up. There are many fears behind this, but ultimately you don’t want a negative reaction.

Yesterday, I spoke up two times. I had been thinking through strategies and solutions for each situation and the opportunity to say something unexpectedly presented itself ….. and I spoke up.

Both were well received and I acknowledge God’s timing, but a significant part was an ongoing preparation and pursuing of an outcome. I was confident in the process regardless of the response.

Be prepared about what is important to you …. And then respond when the timing seems right. Regardless of the outcome, keep moving forward.

Leave a good legacy.

Daily Reminders

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Being overloaded with information is a common danger most people face.

I recently had a conversation with a long-time friend. We went to school before computers and the internet. Typing with whiteout – look it up. We talked about how we searched hard for information – library, radio, actually go hear someone speak … that is if you could find out where they were speaking.

I don’t miss those days, but I have to be intentional on how I control the information overload that comes my way … or else I will not remember the few things that are really important to me. Here’s a simple way I remember the important things.

Every morning I look at 5 note cards. They sometimes change, but they are reminders of my identity, my values and my purpose. One of the sayings is, “My life has authority from the autonomous monotony of the daily disciples of life.” It is the power of the daily ordinary.

This keeps me grounded. Every single day I am reminded of who I am and what I believe/value and what I am pursuing.

Leaving a good legacy … one day at a time.

Solve a Problem

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Notice the black tire marks. The guy in the picture had wheels a few inches wider than his truck frame. He slightly swerved and put a big circle on the door while driving down the highway.

Hey mister – I’m sorry … big tires just pulled your way. Me – I’m just glad it wasn’t worse. Hey mister – what do you want to do … I can buff it out. Me – how long will it take? Him – 3 minutes. Me – well you can see my answer.

I-75 near Lake City car buff and wax. Solving a problem and rollin down the road.

As I felt the breeze of traffic zooming I shared with my new friend … God has a design for our lives …. Like a lane of traffic ….

In a few minutes I am back on the road. My friend seemed encouraged by our conversation …. And I am just thankful … so thankful it wasn’t worse.

Solving problems and working things out are part of leaving a good legacy.

Leave a good legacy.

Thankful

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It is easy to find fault in others. There is a side of my family that is predisposed to being critical and judgmental. I can easily think and respond in those ways.

When I give the effort to be thankful … I am less critical. When I am thankful there is no room for judgment.

The older I get, the more I realize I only understood a part of the circumstances of my early years. My mom was a single parent from my mid teens. About 5 years ago the weight of her being single hit me. In all of my youthful gripes I had never realized how she provided a stable foundation for me to thrive.

In remembrance of my mom’s entrance into God’s presence, I am thankful.

I am thankful for the stable foundation my mom gave me to stand on … and so are her grandchildren and great grandchildren.

Leave a stable foundation for the next generation.

Leave a good legacy.

Keep Pursuing

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Some want to be a Guru on the mountain top where pilgrims go to seek wisdom.

Instead of sitting on the mountain top, why not keep pursuing your dreams and mission. More will want to learn from you as you are doing and living ….. than by sitting there waiting for others to seek you out.

Keep moving forward. Keep pursuing.

Leave a good legacy.